Improvement in horseshoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

E. O. GERO, OF GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHOES.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. O. GERD, of Galesburg, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horseshoes; andl do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification.

The main object of my invention is in constructing a horseshoe for the purpose of spreading contracted feet. i

This shoe is made similar in construction to the ordinary horseshoes, being closed at the toe and open at the heel. At the toe of this shoe a piece is taken out from the rear of the toe-calk and the toe-calk left extending below the surface of the shoe, as shown at a, in the -ordinary way. This does not weaken the shoe at that point, but forms a spring for the sides d d, the purposes of which will be hereinafter set forth.

b b represent springs at the heel of the shoe. These springs are curved inward toward the toe and sides of the shoe. Made upon the end of each spring is a small pad or disk, c, which extend above the upper surface of the shoe, (see Fig. 2,) and are dared from bottom to top7 the points or ends of said pads being nearest together on the upper side. This shoe is self-expanding and can be adjusted to any contracted foot and worn Without injury, as it expands equally at the heel and the toe by means of the pads c c.

The springs a and b b act conjointly and independent of each other. The principal or large spring a is so constructed as not to weaken the shoe, but to be quite elastic, and forming a toe-calk, while the small springs b b are arranged, with the pads c c, so that they will give way to the heavy pressure of spring a and bring the heel out to its right place by more gradual pressure.

In adjusting this shoe to the foot of an animal a metallic plate or clamp is clamped around the shoe and compressed, whenitis nailed to the foot and clamp taken off.

The pads o c are set in the heel of the hoof at the opening between the frog and outer portions of the foot 5 so when the horse is traveling the weight of his body presses upon the pads and spreads the shoe and hoof.

This shoe can be worn by almost any horse with perfect ease, and has proven to be, practically, very benelicent to foundered or other contracted-hoof horses, being made of spring or cast steel.

Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The shoe d d, with spring a, springs b b, and

pads c c, constructed and used substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

As evidence thatl claim the foregoing Ihave hereunto set my' hand in the presence of two witnesses.

E. O. GERO.

Vitnesses:

G. A. LOCKHART, G. W. LooKHART. 

